Hand Cream and Philanthropy Are a Pretty Pair

I love a great hand cream. I am constantly in search of what will make my hands soft (1) because I wash them so much and (2) I want my hands to be as great as everything else on my body. So here are my top hand creams. L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream. Hands down this is the number one pick for hand cream. Over 10 years ago, I read in InStyle that this hand cream was wonderful. Back then the only place to find it was at Barney's in the Galleria. Of course, Barneys back then closed in 1993 and I was stuck. I eventually found it at a cute French like beauty emporium in the West University area in Houston. I am still hooked. I buy other hand creams but, I always make sure I have this one. I also buy the travel size, leave one at work, and place one in each purse, that way I don't have to transfer hand creams or lip balms from purse to purse. Most ladies have a few staple handbags that we really on 90% of the time. I have about 5 and I love knowing that each bag has all my essentials. When I first went to Europe, before the Euro and the loss of the American dollar, there were francs. Francs were so much cheaper. I remember buying about 10 tubes of hand cream for me, mom and all my wonderful aunts. I still buy this for my mom and she leaves one at home and leaves one in her classroom. The purse sizes can be found anywhere they sell L'Occitane, but Sephora usually has the smaller sizes near the register. This hand cream will also last a long time because you don't use as much. It works well for people who cook, because you are constantly washing your hands. Second, is Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream. It is all natural and can usually be found at Whole Foods. I use this one primarily before I go to bed. I don't know why. I was given this as a gift a few years back and I keep one in my nightstand. If I am somewhere and it goes on sale, I try to buy a jar or two. It lasts a long time as well. Third, is the Bath and Body Works Signature Hand Cream in Blackberry Raspberry Vanilla or Warm Vanilla Sugar. I love the consistency, but I also keep this one at my desk. When I need a sweet scented pick me up during the day, I moisturized my dry hands with this one. They usually go on sale, so you can check the web or the store. It has a great thick consistency and the scent is not too overpowering. http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2095799&cp=2073251.2077089&view=all&parentPage=family Fourth, is Ahava. This a hand cream made from the Dead Sea. It is wonderful after a hand exfoliation or masque. Yes, I do put the mask on my hands as well. This slows the appearance of fine lines and hand wrinkles. Ahava can also be found at Whole Foods as well. http://www.ahava.com/popup/products/frm_products.asp?prodId=011N I hope you enjoy these hand creams. I recently received my June 2006 Town & Country which is dedicated to Philanthropy. Every year the magazine focuses one issue on the art of philanthropy. As I flipped through the magazine I was again touched by how we as people are able to help others who are less fortunate than us. As much as I love beauty products, I also love assisting and touching someone else that's why I love this blog. The issue made me thankful to my mother and grandmother who taught me that you can't receive if you can't give. So, I urge everyone who reads to clean out your closets and donate at least 5 items to a shelter, Goodwill, The Salvation Army or any charitable organization. Please make sure these are items that you would definitely wear, they have all the buttons and so on. I clean out my closets every spring and fall because I know that I will always have more because I give. Every summer I buy a new pair of white jeans, so I always donate last year's pair after I wash and make sure they are clean. Please don't tell yourself that you can't donate any clothes because you plan to get back to that size or it will come back. Yes, styles do come back, but do we really need 10 pair of gaucho, capri, bootcut, wide leg, black pants. No. Also, fall fashions will be in stores in 2 months and we are all going to want something new. So, I encourage you to start your own personal philanthropy. It's not about how much you give or what you give. It is about making sure you give something. After all your hard work, rub a great hand cream into your skin and be thankful that you are able to give of yourself, your time, and your heart. You can't receive unless you open your hands to give. I am blessed to be a blessing.